Combined rack and bumper for automobiles



Feb. 18, 1930. L. E. BUTZMAN COMBINED RACK AND BUMPER FOR AUTOMOBILES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31. 1928 Feb. 18., 1930. E. BUTZMAN COMBINEDRACK AND BUMPER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 51. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet455721? E- zu-rzzww Patented Feb. 18, 1930 2-3.".

UNITED STATES LESTER E. IBUTZMAN, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIe oE 'ro THEH.

B. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, on CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or, 0310COMBINED BACK AND BUMP R FOR A TOMOBILES Application filed. December31,1928.

My invention relates to an improvement in foldable racks forautomobiles, the improvement being predicated on the idea of combining arack and a spring bar bumper in the mode and manner hereinafterdescribed, whereby the rack may be readily utilized as a package carrierand also as a bumper extension.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rearend of an automobile embodying a bumper and rack structure according tomy invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the bumpersupporting brackets, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bracketextension to which the foldable rack is pivotally attached. Fig. 4 is aperspective view, partly broken away, of one bumper section separatedfrom the bumper bracket section. Fig. 5 is a top view of the bumper andrack showing the rack unfolded. Fig. 6 is a top view, enlarged, of theunfolded rack and a portion of one of the bumper sections, with partsthereof in section where bolted together. Fig. 7 is a side elevation andsectional View, on a larger scale, of Fig. 5, on

line 77.

As exemplified herein the invention involves a pair of short bumpers 2-2of corresponding form and construction secured to so either the front orrear end of an automobile 3 athwart the fenders 4 at opposite sidesofthe body of the vehicle. Each bumper includes a supporting bar orbracket'member 5 afiixed at one end by bolts or other suitable means tothe frame of the car. These bracket members 5 extend horizontally inspaced relation apart from the body of the car and are rigidly bracedand tied together by a cross rod 6. Each bracket member or bar 5 is bentat substantially right angles to provide a spring loop 7 whichterminates in a reverted spring arm 8 of shorter length than theangularly bent part 9. Two short spring impact bars 10-10 are secured inthe same vertical plane at about their middle to the extremity of springarm 8. These lmpact bars 1010 are secured together at theircorresponding outer ends'by a hinge pin 11, and their correspondingopposite ends are riveted or bolted to a flat plate 12 having a pair ofSerial 110,329,319.

spaced bolt openings 14. therein adapted to register with acorresponding portion 16 of bar 5. An extension member or channeled bar17 of approximately the same width as the space between thetwoimpact-bars 10 is also provided at one end with a pair of bolt openings18. These openings'are adapted to register with the pair of openings 15in bar 5 when the extension member 17 is introduced into the spacebetween the two impact bars with its perforated efnd bearing flatagainst plate 12. In fact all the three sets of bolt openings are inregister at this time and the several parts maybe firmly bolted togetherby two'b'olts 19. The nuts 20 for the bolts, or theheads of the bolts,may be seated withinthe channeled side of extension member 17 to preventthem from turning in bolting the parts together; When the said partshave been assembled as described the extension'member or channeledbar'17 projects forwardly from the main bar or bracket member 5 and fitssnuglywithin the space between the curved loop portions 20 of the twoimpact bars 10.' The-head 21 'ofeach bracket extension 17-protrudes ashort distance beyond the vertical impact faces of the bars 10, and thehead is also offset laterally and perforated to permit a pivotalconnection or hinged joint to be madewith theside member 22 of a rack orgrille frame 23 by means of bolts 24. An overhanging stop shoulder 25 isalso formed in each head 21, which shoulder is adapted tobe engaged by aprojection 26 on the rounded pivotal end of side member 22 when the rackor grille frame 23 is unfolded and lowered to a horizontal p0 i lysition. The rack frame is thereby rig supported and will carryconsiderable weight when lowered to a horizontal position, which weightis distributed to and carried by the bumpers. On the other hand when therack is folded or raised it lies in substantially the same verticalplane as the impact bars 10 wherebent outwardly or protruded to theirgreatest extent. Accordingly the rack 23 will co-act with the bumpers toprotect the vehicle from damage, especially in the area between thebumpers and for a-substantial distance above the bumpers. The rack isalso thereby spaced a substantial distance apart from the scar-body sothat a spare Wheel or tire 27 may becarried upon the car. Preferably therack consists of an open rectangular frame having cross bars 28 spacedapart snbstantialgdistances so that the-hub or hub cap 29 of theispareiwhee'l will not beeng ag'ed by J V e the rack Whenfolded into an uprightposi-v tion The li'mitof folding movement of the G racki-n thisdirection is fixed by the'sideme'mj Y bers 22 when they swing upwardlyagainst Y the verticalshouldersfiO on the heads 21 of the extensionbrackets 17. Then theme]: is" also held upright Withoutthe aid of .alock, inasmuch asthe'rack is confined between the V 'freeends of thechanneled bars orjextension vmembers'l'l whicjh are, sprung apart to:produce a frictional clamping pressure at the hinged joint When'tl1e;rackisbolted thereto,

:20 'l/VhatI.cla-im, is: a Y 1. A- pair ofbumpershavinafspacedimpactybarsbracket members supporting said bumpersin spacedr'elation, arack hinged to foldupwardly between saidmemblers in sub- :25stantiallyvthe same'vertical plane as a part "of the impact area of saidbumpers and supporting members for" said rack attached to said-bracketmembersand extending'throngh' it v H v the space bet'ween said bars. f Y1 i A bumper havingcspaced impact bars, Y Y Y e a: folding rack, andsupporting members for said rack extending through the spacebetWeen-said bars.-, Y f: t j 3. Abumpef having vertically spacedi'mpaet bai's, a bracket: supporting said bumper,

a folding rack; and; an eXtension-ffromTsaid a bracket extendingthroughthe space between "said;barsjandsupportingsaid rack.

- 1 MA folding ra-ck -and a pair ofsnpporting' 5 members therefor havingbolt openings at one-end thereoflin combination with a bumper anda pairof bumpe'r'brackets',1, and bolts for,securingv said rack, supportingmembers saidbwmpenconjzointly to said brackets;

. Intestimony'whereof}affixmysignatnre; Y

Y LESTER BUTZMAN."

